The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-07-27

US beId chassepot rifle awaiting ih'
deadly encounter.
I'VE have the advantage yet,D sais
Henriot as he carefully placed carfridg
in convenient position g we must use
TO the full. Those fellows are Uhlans
and are doubtless armed with carbines
not good for over 500 yards. our Chase
pots will have 100 10 500 yards the bette
Of them. Ha What's that?"
II was second hostile balloon. whicl
had risen on our left, while our enemy il
front had monopolized our interest
Henriot turned 10 me and resting hi'
arm ON tho edge OF the baske. extended
his hand. ] grasped and wrung il, anc
each in turn gazed in the others eyes
withouta word. Page was the first tt
speak His voice was firm.
Z" 1t looks hard, but we can only die
once. We took our lives in our hands
when we came on this voyage and We vii
die, if we haveto die, like men who know
their duty, and shrink from no sacrifice
in its performance.
Then, said Henriot, "our one chance
is now" and leveling his rifle he fired al
our nearest enemy. Page and | fired IN
turn, but without effect Then we all
loaded and fired together. One of the
enemy's crew, evidently their expert bal
loonist, was up in the ropes, and when
our smoke dispersed We saw him hang
ing by his one hand swaying outward
and in another minute he relaxed hIs hold
and fell earthward. | was recalled from
the semitorpor of horror by the reports of
nv companions rifles and the jar accas-
ioned by the parting of a rope in our bal
loon. We were not doing ali the firing.
Our enemies ON the north and east had
opened up on US and were evidently
within range, a. our cortiage had been cut
and the basket struck. We found ray
of hope, however, in the fact that our first
adversary had lost its captain and was
now badly managed. We were soon
above it, and dropping our terrible little
dynamite shells upon it. At first we
feared the silk body would not exploded
them, but it is probable We had yet fail
ed TO strike it, rs presently We heard one
crack like a rifle, followed Immediately
by the explosion of the gas bag and saw
the collapsed balloon 90 down with its
shrieking freight OF doomed souls.
up! Upi" cried Henriot. Throw
out ballast Up Quick and overheard
went our sandbags. We rapidly rose to
the level of our fresh adversary, and,
our confidence greatly strengthened by
the result of our first engagement, We were
just about to fire together when | heard Il
loud report, felt a violent jar and saw our
balloon part from the car. \ chain shot
had severed our rigging
Down Down :! Downii,
God of heaven, with what master
touches memory paints on the mental
visions the scenes of a lifetime, in the su-
premest moment preceding it final ex-
iinction Plunging through the ethereal
void with the velocity of a rifle bullet l
became child again and felt on my
white head the tender earess of a gentle
mothers hand. lived over the scenes
IF my boyhood, cursed myself for youth
'ul follies and lamented the dearth of
good in my past. The friction ofmy ever
doubling velocity through the air seem
ID 10 warm my brain and | marked the
alse step that had led 10 my failure in
ile and laughed in self ridicule at the
.onceits | had harbored of successes not
nine but the mere freaks Of fortunate
lccident. | saw 80 much Of littleness and
md failure-so much offolly and terror
n my life that asked myself if | was
lot a base impostor TO accept the effect
on of devoted wife and the love of ten
Ter little ones. Did ! fear? Only the
terrible impact which must
instantly crush out life and reduce me to
In unrecognizeable mass. Not a moment
IF my life had been free and independ-
mt of the influences of my environment.
had not created myself or shaped my
iestiny. was weak vessel. WIS it
to feel that my Maker best
knew my capacity? Was tia false hope
o trust to the justice of Him who knew
he hidden springs of action? All the
,reen plain-the bright sunrise-home-
sife-mother. Oh i-